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Greetings!
This new year, I want to share with you the tremendous appreciation I have for all that you have done for our returning troops, their families, and their communities. I feel wonderfully blessed by the amazing opportunity that I have each day to do this work.
I know that 2011 will be a better year for many military families because of the work we will do to provide them with the care and support they need and deserve.
Take care,
Barbara Van Dahlen
Founder and President
Give an Hour™
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 Give an Hour™ Providers Add New Specialty Areas
To make it easier for visitors to Give an Hour™ to locate a provider who best fits their needs, we ask that Give an Hour™ providers log into their profiles and add the following specialty areas, if appropriate.
- PTSD evaluation
- Law Enforcement/Military Police Services
- Critical Incident Debriefing
As always, we welcome the feedback of our providers. If you have a suggestion or comment about additional specialty areas to offer, please let us know at info@giveanhour.org. |
Speaking of Providers . . . Do You 
Have Your Free HelpPRO Listing Yet?
Are you aware that mental health professionals who join Give an Hour™, offering their time and professional help to returning troops, receive a one-year free basic listing in the HelpPRO Therapist Finder, a $75 value? Go to http://www.helppro.com/counselingforsoldiers.aspx to sign up.
Give an Hour™ and HelpPRO--a leading online therapist finder used by thousands nationwide to locate mental health professionals--began collaborating in 2008. The goals of the collaboration are to expand the reach of Give an Hour™ and HelpPRO to mental health care volunteer providers and to explore additional opportunities to bring mental health care services to the military men, women, and families who serve our country. William L. Blout, LICSW, HelpPRO's president, says, "HelpPRO is committed to helping returning soldiers and their families. HelpPRO would like to see every one of the 5,000 professionals volunteering with Give an Hour™ take advantage of their free offer to list in the HelpPRO Therapist Finder." In addition to collaborating with Give an Hour™, HelpPRO is also working to offer providers listed with HelpPRO special training working with the military, particularly with PTSD and trauma experienced through combat. Providers listed with HelpPRO can sign up for free online training through Citizen Soldiers Support Program (CSSP) out of the University of North Carolina. |
The Standard Charitable Foundation Grants $25,000 to Give an Hour™
The Standard Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Standard Insurance Company ("The Standard"), has announced a one-year $25,000 grant to Give an Hour™. This grant, the third made to the nonprofit organization since 2008, brings the total awarded to Give an Hour™ by the Foundation to $115,000.
"At The Standard, we strive to help people achieve financial security," said Greg Ness, president of The Standard Charitable Foundation and president and CEO at The Standard. "This philosophy also guides the Foundation's commitment to support organizations such as Give an Hour™, whose positive impact on families and individuals dealing with disabilities, mental health issues, and the loss of loved ones can be felt in communities throughout our nation." "Financial support from The Standard Charitable Foundation over a three-year period has helped us continue to make a real difference in the lives of U.S. military personnel and their families," said Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, founder and president of Give an Hour™. "The Standard has stepped up in recognition of this very deserving population--helping to address the psychological needs of military personnel and their families so that they can live better, more fulfilling lives." The grant from The Standard Charitable Foundation will help Give an Hour™ recruit additional mental health professionals to its nationwide network of providers, allowing us to provide more services to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
For more information about The Standard Charitable Foundation, please visit www.standard.com/foundation.
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 Supporting Give an Hour™
Give an Hour™ is extremely grateful to our generous sponsors: If you are interested in individual or corporate giving, please contact Katherine Wilkins, director of development, at kwilkins@giveanhour.org.
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 About Give an Hour™
Founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a licensed psychologist who now serves as the organization's President, GAH is a nonpolitical nonprofit that has created a network of over 5,200 mental health professionals offering counseling and related services to the military community. Our services are designed to complement Department of Defense and Veterans Administration health care delivery by serving veterans and their families no longer eligible for military health care; non-eligible siblings, parents, fiancées, partners, and other loved ones; and those seeking care outside the current system. GAH's services are particularly valuable to families who live in areas that are not near military bases or VA facilities. Our services are available to active duty service members, members of the Guard and Reserve, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and their loved ones--regardless of deployment status.
Military personnel and their loved ones seeking help through Give an Hour™ are given a list of providers located near their homes or bases and make their own appointments directly with the providers. There are no claims or forms to fill out. This system provides convenience, flexibility, privacy, and almost instant connection with a provider instead of long waits that could exacerbate problems.
In addition to providing direct service, Give an Hour™'s mental health professionals offer consultation to employers, first-responders, schools, and other veterans service organizations; in-service training to counseling centers; and outreach services to educate the larger community about issues affecting the mental health of our veterans and their families and to diminish the stigma associated with needing and seeking mental health assistance. GAH has active partnerships with over 40 organizations ranging from the American Red Cross and BigBrothers/ BigSisters to ServiceNation and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. GAH is endorsed by all the major national mental health associations.
Between 2008 and 2010 the Give an Hour™ provider network grew over 400 percent, to the point where we now have over 5,2000 providers enlisted to provide counseling and other services. As of November 2010, they have given over $3.3 million worth of services (based on a rate of $100 per hour) and are caring for military members and family members at equal rates. Every dollar spent supporting Give an Hour™ has been leveraged to provide over 4 times as much in direct services to our military and their families.
For more information about GAH, please visit our Web site at www.giveanhour.org.
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 Saagara: Better Health Through Breath
Saagara develops affordable, accessible tools that focus on the foundations of health and wellness, including diet, exercise, and proper breathing.
This past November the Michigan-based digital health and wellness company launched a "Healthy Veterans, Happy Families" campaign to raise funds for GAH. In honor of Veterans Month, 10 percent of Saagara's November app revenue will be donated to Give an Hour™.
Their app, called Pranayama, is a breathing tool for reducing stress and anxiety. It focuses on slow, deep breathing and guides the user with calming music and animated visuals to gain energy, focus, and relaxation. It is available for use on a mobile device such as the iPhone, Android, and iPad, or on your PC or Mac when you join the Saagara Member Community.
To download the application or to learn more, visit www.saagara.com.
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 New Web Site Offers Training and Resources on Military Culture for Mental Health Professionals
The Web site www.afterdeployment.org now features a provider portal offering training, resources, and online tools to provide volunteer clinicians with essential information to more effectively render treatment to the military community. This portal was developed collaboratively by the National Center for Telehealth & Technology, National Center for PTSD, and Veterans Affairs. The new portal contains several features: descriptions, professional references, and scoring information for each of afterdeployment.org's 29 self-assessments; quick, fundamental facts about evaluating and treating PTSD and TBI; client handouts across various topics; clinical practice guidelines; links to continuing education materials; and prepared briefings in PowerPoint format on a range of topics.
In addition to the provider portal, the site offers a plethora of resources for the military community, including self-care solutions targeting post-traumatic stress, depression, and other behavioral health challenges commonly faced after a deployment.
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 Spiritual Care Handbook on PTSD/TBI
The Handbook on Best Practices for the Provision of Spiritual Care to Persons with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury
by The Rev. Brian Hughes, BCC, and The Rev. George Handzo, BCC
This handbook is a 112-page guide developed by Military Connection. Besides comprehensive explanations of PTSD and TBI and how these conditions impact the spiritual component of an individual's life, it offers chapters on specialty interventions, relevant scripture readings, the use of interpersonal psychotherapy, and how to encourage connection with a spiritual community.
Although the research surrounding traumatic stress is still quite young and consequently the research connecting traumatic stress and spirituality is sparse, many of the spiritual care interventions recommended in the guide are based on the opinion and experience of expert clinicians who have been professionally addressing the spiritual and emotional needs of those with PTSD and TBI.
To download a free copy of the handbook, visit www.giveanhour.org.
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Provider Spotlight: Joan Rubin-Deutsch
Joan Rubin-Deutsch, licensed social worker, writer, speaker, and Give an Hour™ provider lives and works in Acton, Massachusetts. She is the author of the book Why Can't I Ever be Good Enough? and has 30 years of experience as a facilitator of women's support groups. As a volunteer for the Domestic Violence Services Network in nearby Concord, Joan was asked to run an empowerment group at Hanscomb Airforce Base, 15 miles northwest of Boston. She had also recently connected with Give an Hour™. "Facilitating the group was an amazing experience and one of the most powerful group experiences I've ever had." Joan says. "The nine women who participated were remarkable. They were active duty, civilian employees, and reserve military. There was no stigma about attending; in fact the group was advertised around the base. My goal was to give them the skills and tools to deal with relationship issues and come to grips with past traumas; so many of these women came from traumatic childhoods." Joan worked with the women for a total of five sessions. "I was amazed at the work they were able to do in that short a period of time," she says. "Many of them experienced profound changes, which is commendable since the group was the first time they had opened up to anyone." It soon became clear that one of the women needed individual help, and Joan took her on as a GAH client seeing her eight times one on one in addition to the five times in the group. "Amy [not her real name] grew up in a military family. Her father was alcoholic and abusive," Joan explains. "Her mother was emotionally unstable, and her brother had also been in the military. Amy is in her forties, an 18-year veteran of the Air Force Reserves. She was determined to stay in the service. Five of her close friends had died in Iraq and she felt guilty about not having served there. She very much wanted to deploy." Amy had a legacy of abusive relationships with men throughout her military career. Her father had died two years earlier and her mother was very dependent on her. Right before joining Joan's group, she'd had a miscarriage. "I think the loss of her father, a baby, and then a sixth friend who was killed in a car accident after she started the group motivated her to work with me," Joan says. "She had not allowed herself to grieve or even cry openly about these experiences. Over the year she saw me, she did a significant amount of hard work. I taught her meditation skills, how to recognize abusive relationships, how to use a Vision Board. She took it all in. She got it." After working with Joan, Amy decided to leave the military when her contract expired and further her education. In the process of therapy, she met a very nice man who was kind and gentle, something she had not experienced before. She told Joan, "Everything I asked for on my Vision Board is happening to me. Thank you and thank you to Give an Hour™ for providing me with an experience I might not have accessed otherwise." "It is an honor to volunteer for Give an Hour™," Joan says. "I hope I have another opportunity to service this community."
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 American University Seeks Study Participants for Blast Exposure in OEF/OIF Veterans
American University is conducting ongoing research on the effects
of blast exposure in OEF/OIF Veterans. Researchers hope that the results of this research will help future OEF/OIF veterans who are recovering from injuries. The study is seeking veterans between the ages of 18 and 59 who are living in the Washington, D.C., area, have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this research, call (202) 745-8000, ext. 7553 for more information. Stipends will be provided.
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 Jennifer Crane Joins Give an Hour™ as Part-Time Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Crane is no stranger to Give an Hour™. A veteran and client, Jenn was one of Give an Hour™'s first spokespersons, selflessly sharing her story about her struggles with post- traumatic stress and helping her fellow military comrades to
see that help is available and that hope exists.
Jennifer Crane is a combat veteran of the United States Army, who served in the fourth rotation of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) in 2003. After returning from a combat tour, she began suffering from undiagnosed PTSD. Not knowing what was "wrong" with her, she found herself homeless and living out of her car. Eventually she found her way to Give an Hour™. She notes: "The individuals involved with Give an Hour™ have given me the faith in society that I so desperately needed."
In her own words: "During the time before I was properly diagnosed with Chronic PTSD, I used drugs to escape my head, so to speak. I used cocaine and alcohol heavily to numb my pain and to keep me awake so I wouldn't have to close my eyes and become subject to dreams, the night terrors , the reliving of every horrible thing I saw while deployed. You not only see these recollections but it is physical as well. I used to sweat, scream, kick, and punch in my sleep until it would wake me up. When it was at its worst I did not even have to be sleeping for this to happen. If I closed my eyes my heart would begin to race and I would begin to sweat almost instantly. There are situations that I cannot be in . . . like fireworks. When I see, hear, or even think about them I will shake physically, sometimes cry, sometimes jump to the ground and cover my head, along with having a flashback. Those sounds are the same sounds that incoming mortars make, and it is terrifying. The last time I was exposed I hyperventilated to the point of passing out for almost a whole minute--scary.
"Then, there is the impact on relationships. I came home and was so mentally wounded that I lost everything, my friends and my family included. I lost the man I loved because he didn't understand and couldn't help me. I didn't want his help and there was no longer that bond between us. My mind and heart were in Afghanistan, and he could not cope with my pain. The impact deployment has on relationships is huge. When a soldier comes home mentally wounded, trying to adjust to civilian life is nearly impossible. Hence, the reason for the drug abuse and eventually homelessness."
As Barbara Van Dahlen, founder and president of Give an Hour™, observes, "Jenn is a tremendous asset to the Give an Hour™ team and her presence reminds us of the importance of the work we are doing."
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 Study Seeks Input from Spouses of OIF/OEF Reserve and Guard Veterans
Researchers are calling for spouses of OIF/OEF veterans to take part in a dissertation study. The dissertation focuses on the stress experienced by spouses of veterans and the level of support spouses think they have. Participants will take two online surveys. The surveys will take less than one hour, and upon completion participants will be entered into a drawing to win a $300 Target gift card.
There are three participation requirements: - Your spouse was/is in one of the Reserve or National Guard branches of any of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Air Force)
- Your spouse served in a combat zone associated with OIF/OEF
- Your spouse, after serving in OIF or OEF, was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Confidentiality is a top priority.
Please contact: Jennifer Daniels, M.A., LCPC jdaniels65@comcast.net 847-962-5901
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 Give an Hour™ Hires Lisa Calixto as Volunteer Program Manager and Social Media Maven
Lisa Diane Calixto, a 2006 graduate of American University with
a bachelor's degree in International Relations and U.S. Foreign Policy, was Give an Hour™'s first intern and has been volunteering as the manager of our volunteers. We are delighted to be able to make her an official staff member and tap her expertise on social media as well.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and daughter. She previously worked as the development assistant/fundraiser for Soroptimist International of the Americas. Soroptimist, headquartered in Philadelphia, Penn., is an international nonprofit for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.
"The majority of our very small staff began as volunteers," notes Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, founder and president of Give an Hour™. "GAH would not be what it is today without the generosity of our volunteers, who continually exceed expectations. I believe this is a great testimony to the importance of the issue and our mission."
As our latest volunteer-turned-employee, Lisa manages Give an Hour™'s non-mental health volunteers, matching volunteers' interests and expertise with the needs of the organization. In her new role, Lisa will also manage GAH's social media networks.
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 Webinar Series Offers Best Practices and Resources for Psychological Health and TBI
in Servicemembers
The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury has released the 2011 schedule for its monthly Webinar series, and officials there hope the topics will interest everyone from servicemembers and their families to medical professionals.
The Webinar series presents resources and best practices regarding TBI and psychological health care and offers participants an interactive environment to ask questions or comment. This past year, the series featured topics such as family support techniques, combating stigma, suicide prevention, and reintegration programs.
In 2011, topics will range from the impact of war on children to post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of a natural disaster. Webinars are scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. EST.
Here's the complete schedule: - Jan. 27: Peer-to-Peer Support Model Program
- Feb. 24: Compassion Fatigue
- Mar. 24: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Co-occurring Psychological Health Disorders Focus on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury with Co-occurring Psychological Health Disorders Toolkit
- Apr. 28: Indirect Neurotrauma: The Impact of War on Children
- May 26: Operational Stress and In Theater Care
- June 23: Anatomical/Physiological Changes Secondary to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- July 28: Reintegrative Medicine: Focusing on Family and Clinical Perspective, and Adaptation Following Incident
- Aug. 25: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Natural Disasters
- Sep. 22: Neuropathophysiology of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
- Oct. 27: Generational Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Growth
- Nov. 17: Holidays Apart from Family
- Dec.: No event due to the holidays
For more on the Webinar series, visit the DCoE blog . To be added to the DCoE Monthly Webinar Series listserv or to sign up for upcoming webinars, e-mail DCoE.MonthlyWebinar@tma.osd.mil.
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 Give an Hour™ and National Organization on Disability Release America's Best, Guidebooks for Educators and Employers on Interacting with and Supporting Veterans
Mental health conditions such as PTSD/TBI, the "signature injuries" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, often carry considerable stigma for those so afflicted and can impose severe burdens on personal support professionals and loved ones, as well as on those who teach or supervise such veterans or who are their classmates or coworkers. These largely unaddressed burdens often arise when the service member is "ready" to resume some of the activities of normal life, in particular, entering or reentering the classroom or workplace. From the very beginning part of Give an Hour™s mission has been to search for and provide resources to lighten these burdens for veterans and for those who support, serve, teach, or employ them.
GAH and the National Organization on Disability (NOD) are pleased to announce the publication of a series of guidebooks for educators and employers under the America's Best name. The culmination of a two-year research project on what materials individuals with PTSD/TBI and those who educate or hire them most need, the highly accessible guidebooks contain lessons, best practices, do's and don'ts, stories and examples, manuals, briefings, and curricula.
GAH staff member Celia Straus, who worked on the project with GAH's president Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, consultant Pamela Woll, and over 30 volunteer researchers, explains that "while there was clearly a lack of usable, accessible tools designed to help veterans, trainers, and employers address the challenges of successful reintegration, it was apparent that various civilian and military organizations had studied this issue, convened experts, prepared white papers, and written scholarly articles."
The project team asked questions like, How and how much should individuals with PTSD/TBI disclose of their conditions in such situations? What behaviors and cognitive limitations might individuals with PTSD/TBI, their instructors and classmates, and their supervisors and co-workers anticipate? How should those involved be prepared for such matters and how best can they support the veteran? What accommodations are most helpful in forestalling adverse impacts and fostering productive, satisfying behaviors for all involved? Asking such questions, gathering experientially based practical lessons, and assessing best practices, helped the team compile the "best of the best," in a user-friendly compendium. The guidebooks contain background material on mental health conditions resulting from war experiences as well as explanations of how to assist, support, and maximize successful entry of veterans into the workplace or classroom. The guidelines also contain one-page handouts and tip sheets, along with inspiring quotations from veterans.
The complete America's Best series is available to download at no charge on the Give an Hour™ Web site at: https://www.giveanhour.org.
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